Newsman: Soma Syed becomes the first Bangladeshi-American to win a Queens county civil court judgeship of New York Tuesday. The newly-elected judge confirmed the matter through a Twitter post on Wednesday.
“Tonight, Queens made a history by electing the first Bangladeshi American Judge in Queens and NYS. Our commitment to diversity & fair & impartial justice must continue. Thank you Queens!!!” said the tweet.
“This result is a big inspiration for all Bangladeshis. I will continue doing my voluntary work to support the community,” said Soma Syed. I’have worked hard to make public service the focus of my professional life for one reason only; I love the people of Queens” Syed added.
On July 21, Cassandra Johnson and Soma Syed were selected as Queens’ Democratic judicial candidates to be on the general election ballot in November 2, after holding onto leads established early in the count.
In the general election, Johnson faced Daniel Kogan, and Syed was on the ballot against Republican William Shanahan.
Syed has worked as an attorney for over 17 years, volunteering hundreds of hours to help Queens residents with housing, immigration, unemployment, and other issues.
She is the chairperson of the NYSBA Lawyer Referral and Information Service and the immediate past president of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association.
She moved to New York City from Bangladesh when she was 12 years old, dreaming of one day being an attorney. Syed attended IS 238, Jamaica High School, and City College of New York before graduating from Albany Law School of Union University, where she got her Juris Doctor (JD).
On July 20, 2021, the New York City Board of Elections finally declared the results for all races from the June 22 primaries. Syed was confirmed as the winner of the Democratic primary for Queens Civil Court Judge. The winner of the Republican primary for that position is Cassandra Johnson who along with Syed, will be on the ballot come Nov. 2, 2021.
On her website, Syed says she began to dream of becoming an attorney at the tender age of 12,
